KUALA LUMPUR — Former 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chief Arul Kanda Kandasamy and former prime minister Najib Razak were charged separately on Wednesday (Dec 12) with altering the Auditor-General’s report on the troubled state investment firm it was confirmed and tabled to Parliament.

Arul Kanda was charged with conspiring with Najib to have the 1MDB final audit report altered in February 2016 before it was finalised and presented to the then Public Accounts Committee.

According to the charge sheet, the act was done at the Prime Minister’s Department, Putrajaya, between February 22 and 26, 2016.

The charge under Section 28(1)(c) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act 2009 carries a maximum 20 years imprisonment and a fine of no less than five times the amount of gratification or RM10,000 (S$3,283.05), whichever is higher.

Dressed in a dark blue suit, Arul Kanda — who headed 1MDB from January 2015 until June this year, when his services were terminated by the new Pakatan Harapan government — nodded in acknowledgment when asked if he understood the charges that were read out to him.

The case was presided by Judge Rozina Ayob at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court who set the bail at  RM500,000.

She also ordered Arul Kanda to surrender his passport.

Meanwhile in a separate courtroom, Najib was charged with using his position as prime minister to obtain gratification in the form of disciplinary, civil and criminal immunity related to 1MDB by ordering the amendments to the company’s audit report.

The charge, under Section 23(1) of the MACC Act 2009, is punishable under Section 24(1) of the same Act which carries a prison sentence of not more than 20 years and a fine of at least five times the bribed amount or RM10,000 or whichever the higher upon conviction.

Former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak arrives at the Kuala Lumpur sessions court. Photo: Malay Mail

Najib who stood in the dock before Kuala Lumpur sessions court judge Azura Alwi nodded in acknowledgement when the charge was read out to him.

The judge set bail at RM500,000 with one surety, the same with Arul Kanda.

Najib left at 12.12pm after posting bail.

“I have nothing to say because my lawyers have already commented,” he said before getting into his Black Proton Perdana car.

Arul Kanda left the compound earlier at 11.30am after posting bail. He too did not stop for comments while being accompanied by his lawyer N Sivananthan.

Auditor-General Madinah Mohamad issued a statement last month claiming alterations were made to the 1MDB audit report submitted by her predecessor, Mr Ambrin Buang, in 2016.

She said the altered report also dropped any mention of fugitive financier Low Taek Jho at a 1MDB board meeting as well as its financial status.

Mr Ambrin, however, has repeatedly denied doctoring the report.

Earlier, Arul Kanda stepped out of a sleek silver Honda Odyssey that stopped right at the steps leading to the Court Complex at 8.07am.

Escorted by MACC officials flanking him on both sides, Arul Kanda flashed a smile but didn’t speak to reporters calling his name.

Najib arrived separately at 8.35am.

Also dressed in a dark blue suit, the former premier did not stop to greet the waiting media but was quickly ushered by MACC officers towards the lift that would take him to the Sessions Court on Level 2 of the court complex.

At the last count, Najib has been slapped with 38 criminal, power abuse and money-laundering charges in connection with 1MDB and its former subsidiary SRC International Sdn Bhd.

He has claimed trial to all of them. AGENCIES